This last week was the annual Spokane WA farm show.  I was able to go on Wednesday of last week.  It always reminds me of the dream of agriculture.  I wonder who can afford the four hundred thousand combine from John Deer or International.  This is more than the cost of a new house in this area. 

  As I look at this cost of a combine I am reminded that my grandfather had to build a barn for his horses.  This was his investment in horsepower so he could farm the land.  He needed the barn and it must have been a big investment in 1900 dollars to build a barn this big.  I am sure that his house was much less expensive to build.  This barn allowed him to plow the ground, plant the crop, and harvest. 

What would my grandfather think of agriculture today?  He left the old country to come to this country to have a chance to have his own farm.  He would look at all this new shinny farm equipment and wonder where to hook up the horse collar.  I wonder if the Amish have GPS guidance on their horse driven farm machinery. 

I know that I will go to farm show next year and someday I will have to update my combine and spend some big dollars.  I know I will never buy a new one as I only buy what I can pay cash for.